The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper - Anthony D Blackmanhttp://www2.guardian.co.tt/byline-authors/anthony-d-blackman
enCould Happiness do the trick for Phase II?http://www2.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2015-02-04/could-happiness-do-trick-phase-ii
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www2.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/carnival2015%20logo.jpg" width="400" height="574" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>If one were to peruse the Panorama archives, it would show that bp Renegades is the only steelband which has accomplished the feat of scoring a hat-trick of wins since the inaugural competition in 1963, winning the coveted prize in 1995, 1996 and 1997. </p>
<p>As a matter of fact, a number of bands, besides placing first on multiple occasions, at some point in their Panorama exploits found themselves on hat-tricks as follows. This prestigious group of achievers include Pan Am North Stars (1963 and 1964); Solo Harmonites (1971 and 1972); Witco Desperadoes (1976 and 1977); Massy Trinidad All Stars (1980 and 1981); the said BP Renegades (1984 and 1985, and 1989 and 1990); and more recently, PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars (2009 and 2010). </p>
<p>A “three-peat” for Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove seems to be an elusive dream, nonetheless this steelband’s fearless, out-of-box arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, certainly believes otherwise.</p>
<p>After Phase II’s first taste of the top three in the finals of 1978—placing third—almost ten years later they achieved their first winning double in 1987 and 1988, and from there onwards, the Renegades bogeyman began to haunt them. The records would show that Phase II placed in the proverbial bridesmaid position to both Exodus and Renegades over an arduous 15-year period. </p>
<p>Winners never quit, and for the second time they were back on a hat-trick after winning in 2005 and 2006. But their luck did not change even though the venue for the finals did. All Stars snatched the hat-trick victory from them in 2007 at Skinner Park, San Fernando. Pan folks should remember the two years of stress and horrors when the Grand Stand at the Queen’s Park Savannah was being refurbished with the intention of transforming it into a massive ultra-modern cultural horrors when the Grand Stand facility was being reconstructed.</p>
<p>With the highly favoured return to the Big Yard in 2009, Phase II went right back to bridesmaid status, this time holding the capes of Silver Stars and All Stars. By this time, stick-to-itiveness became the only way to describe Boogsie as an arranger, after just four victories and a myriad of second places throughout a 27-year period. Nevertheless, they are back at the top of the charts again after resounding victories in 2013 and 2014, and are, for the third time, faced with the nightmare of that elusive hat-trick. </p>
<p>It would be extremely amazing to experience what Jit Samaroo did, thought and felt on that final night in 1997, when BP Renegades was in a similar third time around situation. One sure guess is if he did have the “jitters” it certainly worked. A million dollar question to pan aficionados—would you like to be in the shoes of the arranger for the reigning National Panorama champion, and, could Happiness do the trick?</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 05 Feb 2015 01:09:20 +0000jason98386 at http://www2.guardian.co.ttAnthony D BlackmanAND THE BEAT GOES ONhttp://www2.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2013-10-23/and-beat-goes
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www2.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/play_3.jpg" width="645" height="356" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><span style="line-height:1.6em">Jazz festivals tend to have a standard format of live and fringe concerts featuring top of the line vocalists and musicians. </span><span style="line-height:1.6em">The Queen’s Royal College Foundation created the T&amp;T SteelPan and Jazz Festival (TTSJF), which has added several new dimensions to the basic jazz festival model. In 2002 the TTSJF took the decision to include an educational component of music workshops for young aspirants, moderated by some of the finest players of jazz and steelpan music. </span><span style="line-height:1.6em">The title sponsor embraced this new concept, and enthusiastically agreed to support what is now called, the First Citizens Developmental Workshops for Young Musicians. This free music instruction series, provides invaluable opportunities for the ambitious youth, to interact and study with local and international professional musicians, many of them faculty members and graduates of tertiary level music institutions, Grammy Award nominees, and members/players with some of the best acts in the industry.</span></p>
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<p>The 2013 workshops will again be led by trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, professor in Latin Jazz standards and Afro-Cuban music at Puerto Rico’s Conservatory of Music in San Juan. Assisting Sepulveda, as he did last year, is his longstanding bassist Gabriel Rodriquez, a lecturer at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. Rodriquez has written educational columns for the Canadian Global Bass and Argentina’s 44Mgz magazines, and has authored a manual for the development of harmony and technique. Making his debut as an assistant will be Canada’s Jeff Gunn, creator of Hidden Sounds: Discover Your Own Guitar Method video series, and musical director for African hip-hop, star/activist Emmanuel Jal. The local assistants comprise three of TT’s most accomplished musicians: Natasha Joseph, award winning pannist, bandleader of Caribbean-jazz group Elan Parle, Michael “Ming” Low Chew Tung, singer/songwriter/musician and producer Keithson-Jon Cruikshank. </p>
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Past facilitators have also been as impressive, such as veteran drummer Louis Hayes of the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band; Delaware-based vibraphonist Joe Baione, keyboardist Jeremy Ledbetter and Cuban born trumpeter Alexis Baró, both of the Toronto based Caribbean Latin-jazz collective CaneFire, as well as Trinidad-born bassist David “Happy” Williams, steelpan virtuoso Robert Greenidge and pianist Orville Wright, former chairman, Ensemble Department, Berklee College of Music. Participation, which is open to all students, has achieved totals in excess of 450, and this year the format of the workshops include, improvisation lessons, and the correct methodology for playing music in ensembles, after which, each attendee will receive a personalised certificate of participation.</p>
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On October 26, the series culminates in a free, invitation-only Youth in Music Concert featuring student ensembles performing with their instructors, at Queen’s Hall, Port-of-Spain. Young musicians interested in participating are encouraged to register online at <a href="http://www.steelpanjazzfestival.com/events/workshops.html The">http://www.steelpanjazzfestival.com/events/workshops.html The</a> Grand Finale of the Festival is the finals of the International Steelpan Jazz Challenge, on October 27 at Queen’s Hall. Now in its third year, the newest addition to the festival, is open to 12 piece ensembles, consisting of a mix of steelpan and conventional instruments, or steelpan only, playing Caribbean music in a jazz genre. Heavy competition is anticipated for last year’s winners, Codrington Pan Family, from J Major Jazz, Golden Hands, UTT, Courts Sound Specialist of Laventille, Moyenne, Tamana Pioneers, Sadiki Sticks on Steel, Witco Desperadoes, TT Police Service Jazz, Fusion Steel and White Oak Starlift. Adjudicators for the challenge are Dr Dawn Batson and Ron Reid. Bands will be vying for prizes of $100,000, $50,000, $30,000 for first to third places, and $25,000 for fourth to eighth place. </p>
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<p><strong>Developmental Workshop sessions</strong></p>
<p>October 23 <br />
Venue: Malabar North Community Facility, Arima </p>
<p>October 24<br />
Venue: Bon Air West Community Facility Arouca</p>
<p>October 25 <br />
Venue: Lions’ Cultural Centre, Port-of-Spain<br />
Young musicians interested in participating are encouraged to register online at <a href="http://www.steelpanjazzfestival.com/events/workshops.html">http://www.steelpanjazzfestival.com/events/workshops.html</a></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:58:04 +0000Black_Jacobin76704 at http://www2.guardian.co.ttAnthony D Blackman